Division One (East)
Binfield 1 Eton Wick 1
Saturday, 19 October 2002
The opening half-an-hour of this clash had all the suffering supporters wishing they were at home doing D.I.Y., or something more interesting like watching paint dry! Fortunately, the final hour produced a close-fought entertaining struggle that moved end to end and could have gone either way from the final 1-1 score-line. Binfield gave a home debut to new keeper Simon Harvey, following the recent medial ligament injury to first-choice stopper Mark Walkington. The former Wokingham Town no. 1 produced an impressive display to ensure Binfield?s share of the points. The midweek rain had improved the Stubbs Lane surface, but, on a bright afternoon, it made little difference as both teams served up dismal fare for thirty minutes. Apart from it seeming that players couldn?t kick or head it (although the ?head-tennis? game was most in evidence), the only notable occurrence was a head-injury to Binfield defender Ricky Hume that saw him taken to hospital with severe concussion.
Then on 32 minutes, the ?moles? veteran striker Mick Havermans decided he?d had enough of the mediocrity, producing a right-foot volley of real quality from twelve yards to give the home team the lead. 1-0. Interestingly, this came from a right-wing cross on one of the few occasions that Binfield got the ball to a wing back in an advanced position. The goal woke Eton Wick too, and they responded immediately with Wayth volleying against the crossbar from eight yards. The interval arrived with the ?moles? retaining their slender advantage.
Half Time 1-0
The opening exchanges after the break saw a visitors free-kick headed over, before centre-back McManus fired narrowly wide while Binfield appealed for a foul on Withers. Play now swung from end to end. Withers fired over on 52 and the ?Wick? replied with Faucher heading just over from White?s left wing cross a minute later. On 59, Kris Day?s corner for the hosts found skipper Mark Baker free in the six-yard box. His powerful header from two yards looked a goal all over, but, miraculously, Graham flew to his right for an instinctive save to keep Eton Wick in the game. Only a minute later, an unforced error by Smith presented the ball to Havermans. This time the home striker could not beat the imposing figure of Graham and pulled his shot wide. These misses gave Eton Wick renewed spirit and they pushed three up front against an increasingly fragile-looking Binfield defence. Baker was having an afternoon to forget, but Jason Day was in outstanding form, breaking up most of the visitor?s attacks.
Eton Wick was now in the ascendancy and the home team?s three-at-the-back formation was being tested to the max. Wayth got clear again, but Harvey foiled him with a fine save. An equaliser looked imminent. Binfield were then denied a ?stick-on? penalty as John Smith was hauled down in the box, with the defender making no effort to let him up either. Wick?s sustained pressure finally told in the 70th minute. Quelch was left free at the far post from a right-wing corner and fired past the despairing Harvey?s dive from six yards. Binfield responded with McCoy?s header tipped over, following a long throw from Harris. The visitor?s were now enjoying the greater possession and as Binfield?s wing backs? ran out of gas in midfield no-man?s land, the threat down the channels was increasing. On 77 the home defence was again sliced open, but once again Wayth was the culprit, squandering a clear-cut chance to put Wick ahead. In a frantic finale, substitute Nick Kellaway almost nudged Binfield ahead; Harvey then produced a fantastic save one-on-one to deny the visitor?s a last-gasp winner. There was still time for Kris Day to produce one final mazy run, but his shot dipped a fraction over the bar.
Overall a draw was a fair reflection on the game, but the ?moles? will need to tighten up at the back if they are to return to winning ways.
Binfield: Harvey, K. Day, Hume (sub. Keough 26), J. Day, Baker, Morgan-Jones, Harris, Withers (sub. Leishman 79), McCoy, Havermans, Smith (sub. Kellaway 79)
Eton Wick: Graham, Brookman, White, Smith, McManus, Swift, Giacobbe, Ince (sub. Croly), Quelch, Wayth, Faucher (sub. Byrne)
Over at Eton Wick, in a hard-fought encounter, Binfield reserves went down 1-0 to a physical Eton Wick outfit. Despite enjoying a lot of possession the ?moles? second-string succumbed to a solitary second-half strike.
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